Levenia Furusa received her degree in Business Management from the University of Zimbabwe. Levenia moved to the US in 1995. She worked with various group homes as well as nursing homes. It was there where she saw many working families in need. While working she obtained her degree in Human Services from University of Massachusetts Lowell. She worked at Lifelinks in a Self-Directed Team for 8 years before she moved to Fidelity House Human Services where she worked for 13 years as a Managing Director, assisting in hiring and training employees.

Levenia is a founding Board member and President of the Lowell African Cultural Association, which hosts the annual Lowell African Festival. She is certified as an intensive foster care provider and works with children through the Department of Children and Social Services. She has been certified as a trainer by American Red Cross in First Aid, CPR/AED and Responding to Emergencies. She also has a certificate from Servsafe for food safety and teaches cooking classes. She is certified by MA Alliance in Sober Housing to open and run a sober house. She is also a COVID-19 compliance officer. In 2020, she was awarded the Inaugural Greater Lowell Community Foundation's Community Connector Award in recognition for her work in the community. The City of Lowell also recognized her for going beyond simply operating a food pantry, while serving immigrants and refugees in Lowell.

For anyone who knows Levenia Furusa Mavingire; when they hear about her, the first thing that comes to mind is a scene of her running or driving children to or from school, or, a scene of her feeding the destitute on the streets of Lowell.

If there are people who get involved in their communities; say ‘kudos’ to this woman.    Levenia is something else.   Levenia is a people person.  You find her in church bringing sandwiches for the congregation every Sunday morning; or at a women’s gathering giving them some hope and encouragement; or at a school discussing with a teacher about one of her foster children’s needs; or attending one of the city council town meetings.  Believe you me; the list of activities Levenia is involved in goes on and on.  Many times she is driving her big box truck written Dwelling House of Hope (Helping Hands) on both sides. Levenia has a lot of energy, sometimes we wonder where she get all that energy from.

Levenia moved to Lowell MA from Zimbabwe in 1995.  Even in Zimbabwe she was always giving someone a helping hand.

There are many attributes Levenia got from her father, Mr. John Furusa, who was a missionary in Zimbabwe, Africa.  He was a man of everyone in need.  A man who loved God and spent most of his life being a businessman and doing God’s work at the same time.  Mr. Furusa gave his money away.  He gave his love and time to people he served.  So is this lovely lady; just like her dad.  By the time she leaves this world, Levenia is sure to leave a legacy.

Levenia initially studied Business; but like most people she found that she was not quite in her niche and switched to Human Services.

-Pastor Paaj